Support the Seaweeds: 50 Ways To Save the Oceans

Most of us relish the beach: fresh salty air, sand between our toes and the reassuring crash of waves. But our oceans bring us more than a respite from daily life. "While the rain forests have been called the lungs of the planet, tiny plankton in the world's oceans actually absorb most of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and return 70 percent of the oxygen we need to live," writes David Helvarg, president of the Blue Frontier Campaign (bluefront.org) in 50 Ways to Save the Ocean (Inner Ocean Publishing, 2006, $12.95). Here are a few steps Helvarg suggests that even the landlocked can take:

Choose Green Power

In response to rising prices, the national Energy Policy Act of 2005 authorized a gas and oil survey of protected waters off the U.S. coasts; next came pressure on Congress to open these areas to drilling. Using these fossil fuels for energy and transport releases the greenhouse gas CO2. And coal-burning power plants release neurotoxic mercury, sulfur oxide (SO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), components of smog and acid rain. Rain carries these toxins into bays and oceans. See our Green Power Utilities Product Report for how to choose cleaner energy in your area.

Drive Less: Carpool, Bike, Walk or Take Public Transportation

Another source of the NO2 in smog, as well as CO2, is your car's tailpipe. Helvarg notes that NO2 emissions may account for more than 25 percent of the nitrogen buildup that causes oceanic dead zones.

Create Ocean-Friendly Outdoor Space

Impermeable surfaces such as asphalt and concrete increase the amount of storm water that runs off your driveway into storm drains, carrying oil and other contaminants into waterways and out to sea. One gallon of oil can pollute 250,000 gallons of seawater. So maximize plant cover, which absorbs water, and use gravel or other permeable materials for driveways, patios and paths. Also, wash your car at a do-it-yourself commercial carwash, which drains oil and other automotive contaminants to wastewater treatment plants, not your storm drain.